Far from the glitz and tourist traps, lies a more intimate, up-close and personal means of accommodation - hostels. Mary Clark and her family roughed it during a trip to Chile, staying in tiny rooms with bunk beds, and sharing space with strangers.
Mary had not stayed in a hostel in some 40 years, so it took she and her family some adjusting to reacclimatize to the tight quarters. Sharing a small room with fellow travelers can be a humbling experience, but also a lot of fun as it turns out.
Despite the lack of big city amenities, hostel lodging offers travelers a more primitive way to catch some sleep, without having to zip up a sleeping bag in the woods.
For a transcript of this story, and additional photos, visit the Mary Clark Traveler Blog.
Mary Clark Traveler is heard Tuesday mornings at 7:20 during Morning Edition on KETR.